The Whitsundays domestic visitor expenditure has surpassed $970 million for the year ending December 2025, with international visitor spend and stay both down on the previous year.
According to the latest results from Tourism Research Australia’s Domestic Tourism Statistics (DoTS) collection and the International Visitor Survey (IVS), international visitors stayed twice as long as Australians, and spent an average of $366 per night compared to international visitors who spent just $178.
Domestic tourism
The Whitsundays generated $970.6 million in total domestic visitor expenditure, 3 per cent of Queensland’s total, with holiday travel and strong interstate demand driving performance across the year. As the year ending December 2025 represents the first full year of the DoTS methodology, no year-on-year comparison is available; these figures establish the new baseline for domestic performance tracking.
- Total visitor expenditure: $970.6 million (3 per cent of Queensland)
- Overnight visitors: 697,000
- Visitor nights: 2.5 million
- Intrastate visitors: 444,000 | Intrastate expenditure: $449 million
- Interstate visitors: 253,000 | Interstate expenditure: $463.5 million
- Average length of stay: 3.6 nights
- Spend per visitor: $1,309
- Spend per night: $366
International tourism
The Whitsundays welcomed 176,000 international visitors in the year to December 2025, with expenditure of $233.5 million. While both metrics eased year-on-year, average length of stay increased, reflecting a visitor who is choosing to stay longer and engage more deeply with the destination.
- Visitors: 176,000 (down 6.4 per cent) | Expenditure: $233.5 million (down 7.4 per cent)
- Visitor nights: 1.3 million (down 1.8 per cent)
- Average length of stay: 7.5 nights (up 0.3 nights)
- Spend per visitor: $1,328 (down 1 per cent)
- Spend per night: $178 (down 5.7 per cent)
- UK visitors: 44,000 (down 14.4 per cent)
Industry commentary
“Whether domestic or international, people are staying longer and spending more per visit than almost anywhere else in Queensland, and that’s not by accident. It reflects the quality of what this destination offers,” Tourism Whitsunday CEO Tim Booth said.
“On the international side, we saw fewer arrivals this year, but visitors who did come stayed longer than ever before, and that’s the trajectory we want to be on. We’re focused on attracting visitors who want to immerse themselves in this place, and the latest data shows we’re doing exactly that.”
“This is a strong outcome for the region and local businesses, and Council is proud to work alongside Tourism Whitsundays and industry, with our ongoing investment recognising tourism as a key driver of jobs, economic activity and confidence across the Whitsundays,” Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor Ry Collins said.
“It’s a credit to local operators, businesses and the wider community, and Council will continue building on this momentum to keep the Whitsundays a destination of choice for visitors from across Australia.”
